US Patent 10479449 Inflatable watercraft and method of making same

A watercraft is made of at least two inflatable members, each being made of a drop-stitch which provides strength and stiffness comparable to a solid material. Air pressures of twenty to thirty pounds are possible with drop-stitch material. Using near net shape structures, a cockpit is formed by stacking one inflatable member on top of the other. The two members are separately inflatable and bound together adhesively or with heat welding or tacking. Advantageously, the watercraft can function as both a board type watercraft or as a boat, capable of being paddled while standing up, or motored with an outboard motor.